What is a typical day on your course like?
Have a seminar, talk about some sort of interesting idea, and then spend the rest of the day finding ways the rest of my life relates to it. Write music, listen to music, read about music. Practise my instrument. Cook. Go out to some sort of Guild drama event. Fall asleep listening to Bach, thinking about how comedy and battle rap always goes from setup to punchline, whereas Baroque music does the opposite in starting with a unique motive and becoming more conventional towards the cadence.
What are you involved in outside of your studies?
I play piano with an improv comedy troupe. I often play in bands for musical theatre shows. I'm the manager of the Music Society's Big Band, in which I play guitar, and I'm involved in some other jazz ensembles and bands.
How have you found living in Birmingham? What do you like about Birmingham as a city?
Birmingham is a big and scary city (unless you've lived in London), which encourages you to become more politically aware. New Street train station has a giant screen shaped like an eye which takes information on the demographics of people passing by and shows them targeted advertising. Within this, it feels especially noble when you find places which value the arts, and there is also some beautiful nature if you know where to look.
What Music venues do you visit in Birmingham?
Symphony Hall, Town Hall, CBSO Centre, The Spotted Dog, Bramall, Barber, The Indie Lounge, The Pear, The Hare and Hounds
Would you recommend Birmingham to prospective students?
Yes. Invaluable links to the electroacoustic music community (Jonty Harrison taught until very recently). Close relationship between the composition department and BCMG (fantastic chamber ensemble). Simon Halsey and Julian Wilkins are professional choral conductors at the top of their game, and they can get you into a huge choir that sings in the Proms.
Why did you choose your degree programme? What interests you about the subject?
I enjoy music and I'm quite good at it. It's a very interesting thing to be able to understand the mechanics of processes that can so effectively manipulate people's emotions. You also get a good reason, and the means to, listen to as much music as you can, which will always lead to you noticing connections between remote artistic expressions. Studying music is also often a gateway for studying history, which helps us to contextualise our lives and is important for keeping things in perspective.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Birmingham?
Honestly, all of the universities I visited looked pretty good. What swung it for me was the Bramall building. Come for the Bramall, stay for the staff.
What have you enjoyed about your time here so far?
Learning to listen. Especially to very small things. Paying attention to small details and large-scale development both in pieces of music and in people. Getting a piece I wrote performed by Symphony Orchestra. Singing in the Proms twice. Playing piano with an improv comedy troupe at the Edinburgh Fringe. Going to loads of concerts. Playing in, and managing, the Big Band. Long nights at the Spotted Dog. Having philosophical conversations at 4am at the end of a party.
Do you have a favourite module? If so, why?
American Experimental Music. Makes you consider what the point of music is. Whether you're still having fun. What is fun? Why are some things fun and others not? Should music be fun? Why/why not?
What are your plans after graduating?
Stay here, do a masters in electroacoustic composition. Learn in even more detail how to write better music. Develop myself as a person, and become better at improving other people's lives too. After that, see if I can make it as a professional composer.